Money splurdge for d3 and hl2

[WPKenny]

The time has come to see exactly how flexible my credit card sized friend is.
I've decided I'm going to do a cost effective upgrade. I.e most bang for my buck.

I've already pretty much decided on a 6800 GT but I need some help from you guys on the following items...

A TFT monitor. Budget's around 300 or so.

A new desk. Needs to be small v small but sturdy as I'm consigning this 6ftx6ft L-shaped beast to the garage and want to reclaim some space in the lounge. I don't use my desk at home for anything other than gaming so it just needs enough space for the keyboard, monitor and enough room to swing my wireless mouse. Budget around 100 quid or so for that.

A new CPU. I have a Asus A7n8x-deluxe motherboard which I'm quite happy with for now. Currently it has a 2400+ in it but the ram is 2700 so can take any 333 fsb chip. I was thinking of an athlon 3000+ 333 fsb. Sound ok? (ps, not keen on upgrading the ram too as I just recently got a further 512meg of ram and want to get my money's worth out of it....surely it won't make THAT much difference?)

New PSU? Currently I have a 300 watt power supply if memory serves so I'm guessing it needs an upgrade for the GT to be happy. Any reccomendations. I'm expecting to pay around 50 quid but something cheaper would be nice. Also quiet would be good too.

I think that's about it. Like I say I don't mind spending the cash just as long as it's cost effective and not just for the sake of it being the best out there.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

[WPKenny]

Update:

Just got this: http://www.tekheads.co.uk/s/product?product=602960
Seems like a nice PSU and at 480 watts it should be fine for the GT.

Also I guess I'll be needing a new HSF for the cpu. I've currently got a coolermaster HC-001 silent heatpipe (I think).

 

[Clown]

LG1710B for monitor?

 

[TdC]

The time has come to see exactly how flexible my credit card sized friend is.
I've decided I'm going to do a cost effective upgrade. I.e most bang for my buck.

I've already pretty much decided on a 6800 GT but I need some help from you guys on the following items...

A TFT monitor. Budget's around 300 or so.

A new desk. Needs to be small v small but sturdy as I'm consigning this 6ftx6ft L-shaped beast to the garage and want to reclaim some space in the lounge. I don't use my desk at home for anything other than gaming so it just needs enough space for the keyboard, monitor and enough room to swing my wireless mouse. Budget around 100 quid or so for that.

A new CPU. I have a Asus A7n8x-deluxe motherboard which I'm quite happy with for now. Currently it has a 2400+ in it but the ram is 2700 so can take any 333 fsb chip. I was thinking of an athlon 3000+ 333 fsb. Sound ok? (ps, not keen on upgrading the ram too as I just recently got a further 512meg of ram and want to get my money's worth out of it....surely it won't make THAT much difference?)

New PSU? Currently I have a 300 watt power supply if memory serves so I'm guessing it needs an upgrade for the GT to be happy. Any reccomendations. I'm expecting to pay around 50 quid but something cheaper would be nice. Also quiet would be good too.

I think that's about it. Like I say I don't mind spending the cash just as long as it's cost effective and not just for the sake of it being the best out there.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

CC sized friend? your co><or? just kidding matey I'm in the same situation apart from the PSU tbh, and I fear there's going to be a mobo/mem/cpu/gfx upgrade somewhere in the near future for me

my thoughts: make a desk to your exact specs, case you're not that hot in the DIY stuffe, then I'd say IKEA is your friend but....personally I'm not too into their desks. Like their tables however: next to any size laminated mdf on a couple of sturdy legs and I'm happy.
that TFT....I know you want to reclaim space, but are you really sure you want a TFT? those 300 notes may be better to take your poota to new heights cpu/mem wise perhaps? it's always a puzzle to balance 'teh powah' in your pc imo.

 

[Tom]

Kenny I'd hold back on the TFT purchase, unless your monitor is broken. I don't think they've yet hit their true value in terms of price, give it a few more months.

Also for HL2 and Doom3 have you got 5.1 sound? I have the same mobo as you and I think it has 5.1 onboard sound.

 

[TdC]

it does (I have it too). perhaps a cool 5.1 set?

 

[Honza]

TFT - to have same quality as CRT, you'd need to climb quite high with cost and even then you can have ghosts time by time in very dynamic scenes (recommend 12ms repositioning time). If you go for TFT you want one with digital input (not the classic 15 pin analog monitor input!) and if possible, go for 16:9 screen since it's future in it.

Power source - power of 480 Watts is quite over, but if you wish to upgrade further once, go for it, you can't do any bad with strong source. Also when buying new source, look for one with power stabilisation if possible and if your country power
fluctuates like one in Czech.

Motherboard - hmm, this is a nut... Your one is quite outdated If you really think of high end computer you will need motherboard with two PCI-X 16x slots (to get second 6800 card and run it in SLI). For manufacturer, Asus is your friend.

Memory - as fast as possible, really watch it's clocking is 2.5T or lesser, frequency 400 MHz better (in fact it's 200 MHz, but double rated so it's said it's 400), two 512 MB modules to work in very fast mode. Can really recommend Corsair XMS, but there also other high-end memory producers. If you buy new mobo, go for DDR2, where T time is not so important obviously and head for as high frequency as possible. To your question - yes, it is HUGE difference between common 3T and 2T memory run in pair mode.

Graphic card - can't do more than /clap /clap /clap to your choice.

Sound - get sound card, Sound Blaster Audigy 2 OEM version is cheap and uber. Integrated sound cards play shit - was trying to compare Audigy 1 and Asus board integrated 5.1 sound card... well, the difference is more than HUGE.

Repro - can recommend genius home theatre 5.1 SW - solid wooden cases, very balanced, dynamic sound and quite cheap, although don't have digital input, but play really really cool.

CPU - as you go for games only computer, go for 64bit Athlon. You need really really strong computer to manage feeding of GT6800.

HDD - 2x 74 gig WD Raptor in RAID-0 (SATA) + some 'storage' hdd on SATA/ATA
----------------------------------------------------
It is useless to buy best graphic card if you have slow/low memory and slow/old cpu and mobo. To fully njoy your pc, you need it BALANCED. You need corresponding ammount of fast RAM and fast enough CPU. Also, to feed up cpu with data, you need lightspeed harddisc (see above).
----------------------------------------------------

 

[Honza]

add-on :

TFT - And still I would rather recommend you high refresh rate CRT (100 Hz+) then TFT cause longer sit at TFT = eyes pain.

Desk - save your eyes! Be at least one meter+ away from screen. Also, eyes are less exposed when you have faint not direct light around your screen (not fluorescent tube!!!! classic bulb, philips recommended). Get a decent chair if you don't have one - office ergonomic chair with armrests to keep your hands and backbone healthy. Ergonomic keyboard recommended for longer writing.

 

[Mobius]

Damn HL2 and Doom 3... how are these bits?

http://www.dol-amroth.net/mobius/Compootah/

 

[TdC]

Damn HL2 and Doom 3... how are these bits?

http://www.dol-amroth.net/mobius/Compootah/

methinks it will work just peachy

*steals Mobius' poota bits and cd collection*

 

[Mobius]

Suddenly I feel alot poorer.

 

[WPKenny]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'm not keen on totally replacing the mobo and memory as I still think there's some life in them. Once I'm uber-rich I'll replace everything but I'm happy to stick with just a new cpu and gfx card for now. The reason I want a tft is mostly for space reasons. I want to downsize this beast of a desk I use (see realdesktop thread in General).

I'm happy with my current 19" CRT so if everyone says I should keep hold of it, I may try to find someway to incorporate it into a smaller desk setup if I'm going the custom build direction. Need to think about that some more. It kicks out a lot of heat too and our house is hard to get a through draft so it can get very warm in our lounge. Another thing to consider I suppose.

Well if I don't get a TFT I can afford to upgrade the memory I suppose.
Any ideas on the CPU? Are there any really over clockable athlons out there and what's a decent and fairly quiet heatsink that could cope with 3200+ type temps.

 

[Honza]

Suddenly I feel alot poorer.

Wow, you english guys are expensive! At me it would cost 10% less.

 

[TdC]

you can get a titanium mtb frame for that kinda cash

 

[Mobius]

you can get a titanium mtb frame for that kinda cash

A what? And yeah its expensive, but I doubt I could find it cheaper...wish I could.

 

[Danya]

Memory - as fast as possible, really watch it's clocking is 2.5T or lesser, frequency 400 MHz better (in fact it's 200 MHz, but double rated so it's said it's 400), two 512 MB modules to work in very fast mode. Can really recommend Corsair XMS, but there also other high-end memory producers. If you buy new mobo, go for DDR2, where T time is not so important obviously and head for as high frequency as possible. To your question - yes, it is HUGE difference between common 3T and 2T memory run in pair mode.

If by huge you mean 5-10% in real terms, then sure - there's a difference, but it's not as large as most people in think in general.

Sound - get sound card, Sound Blaster Audigy 2 OEM version is cheap and uber. Integrated sound cards play shit - was trying to compare Audigy 1 and Asus board integrated 5.1 sound card... well, the difference is more than HUGE.

If you want reasonable sound just get an external 5.1 decoder - the output from one 5.1 setup isn't that much difference from another in digital mode (I assume the asus mobo has either optical or coax output). It tends to be in the DAC where PC sound cards sound crap. Also SB audigys have some serious compatibility issues with other hardware.

Repro - can recommend genius home theatre 5.1 SW - solid wooden cases, very balanced, dynamic sound and quite cheap, although don't have digital input, but play really really cool.

As mentioned above definitely get something with digital input, onboard DACs on soundcards are often cheap and the inside of a computer has way too much EMI to get reasonable quality sound output in any event.

It is useless to buy best graphic card if you have slow/low memory and slow/old cpu and mobo. To fully njoy your pc, you need it BALANCED. You need corresponding ammount of fast RAM and fast enough CPU. Also, to feed up cpu with data, you need lightspeed harddisc (see above).

HDD speed only affects load times assuming you have enough memory to not be swapping. The cpu is fed by your memory not your HDD (directly at least).

 

[WPKenny]

Is my HHC-001 Coolermaster Silent Heat-pipe HSF going to be up to the job of cooling a 3000+ or a 3200+? It does just fine with the 2400+ right now going up to about 45 - 50 degrees in a very warm room. Even the coolermaster website doesn't say the max cpu it reccomends you stick it on.

 

[Danya]

The 2400+ and the 400FSB 3000+ are rated at the same thermal output so I think you'll be just fine.

 

[old.user4556]

Just to point out if you want to enjoy Doom 3 in 5.1, you need an nforce2 based motherboard with Soundstorm as you require 5.1 dolby digital encoding. Only Soundstorm does this at the current time. I have mine connected via optical to my home theatre decoder and it sounds fucking incredible.

/strokes Abit AN7

On the TFT note, you can live without it but 16ms is absolutely fine for gaming. Of course, for serious gaming, TFT won't replace CRT imo. I much prefer the brightness, sharpness and perfect geometry of TFT.

G

 

[Uriel]

On the subject of a new PSU. It's hardly the most glamorous of purchases but I bought a Tagan 480w a couple of months ago after my generic 300w packed in.

My system is noticeably more stable/quieter and it comes with a 36 month guarantee just in case anything goes wrong. I’d thoroughly recommended it although, you should bear in mind that it comes with a *huge* amount of cables that you might have trouble hiding if your case is on the small/cramped side.

 

[old.user4556]

It has landed... and it's absolutely incredible. Blows the 9800 Pro out of the water and into another world.

Bring on Doom 3 now

G

 

[TdC]

*jealous*